Resources

The Resources You Need to Succeed

I’ll bring you the latest, most useful information on ways to improve your marketing and networking efforts. I am pulling together the most comprehensive list of the best resources with you in mind, so you don’t have to wade through the clutter. I know Portland’s local economy, and I know what matters to Portland businesses. I welcome your suggestions for additions. And please do let me know if any of these links are broken.

Business and Community Connections and Referrals

ReciProty is a vibrant online community bringing community support, business networking, and marketing to the next level! The ReciProty Blog provides advice for local neighborhood and business networking. Discover the secrets behind developing a trusted network of support.

Business District Associations

Venture Portland (formerly the Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations, or APNBA) supports Portland’s 35+ unique and thriving neighborhood business districts, which together comprise a majority of the city’s businesses — approximately 16,000 of them and nearly 200,000 jobs — playing a vital role in Portland’s economic prosperity. You can find links to these business districts on this site.

The CEIC Central Eastside Industrial Council is a non-profit, volunteer organization, responsible for representing businesses and property owners residing in the Central Eastside Industrial District (CEID) in Portland, Oregon. The 681-acre district encompassing property south of I-84 to Powell and the river to SE 12th contains 1,122 businesses and over 17,000 employees.

Chambers of Commerce

The Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC) fosters business-to-business relationships through frequent networking events and educational seminars throughout the year and strives to use its connections with Asian countries and pacific region to help develop international business opportunities.

The East Portland Chamber of Commerce bills itself as “The voice of business of East Portland.” It is an independent organization dedicated to serving the interests of businesses on Portland’s east side – from the Willamette River to the city of Gresham. Meetings are held on Wednesday mornings. Check the EPCC website calendar for each week’s topics and locations.

Since 1994, the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (HMCC) has provided a vital forum for the Hispanic business community to share ideas, concerns and successes. We conduct a wide variety of activities including: networking sessions, luncheons and dinners with local and national keynote speakers that are leaders in their areas.

The Portland Business Alliance is greater Portland’s Chamber of Commerce. It is one of Oregon’s leading business organizations and is dedicated to providing value to its members and working in partnership with other organizations to build a vibrant Central City and regional economy. The Alliance also puts on many events of interest to businesses of all sizes in and around Portland.

City of Portland Sites

Business Portland is a comprehensive collection of helpful information targeted to business owners looking to start, expand, grow or locate a business in Portland. The Business Portland web site has been created by the City of Portland’s economic development agency, the Portland Development Commission (PDC), to assist Portland businesses in navigating the resources available to them.

The Portland Development Commission connects you to programs, projects, resources, news about the agency and the city, and other organizations we work with. Find e-mail and mailing addresses for PDC staff, a map to PDC offices, phone numbers for PDC programs and services.

Portland Online is the City of Portland’s official website. This site contains links to the Mayor’s office and the offices of City Council Commissioners as well as links to all of the City’s Bureaus.

The Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC) provides an organized voice communicating directly with the Portland City Council on policies that impact small business.

Cultural Organizations

Business for Culture and the Arts connects Oregon businesses with local arts organizations to champion participation in the arts. We help create a creative community that attracts leading-edge talent and innovative companies that strengthens our culture and economy.

Cultural Oregon is a content rich, magazine style site that focuses on three broad areas of interest. We seek to give our readers interesting stories and practical information about the wonders of Oregon Adventure, Travel and Leisure and we plan to promote local Oregon business partners that have a presence in the State of Oregon.

Educational Resources

The PCC CLIMB Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is one of 19 in the state of Oregon, offering growth and development opportunities for small business owners throughout the PCC district. CLIMB delivers professional training and business development, backed by the experience and size of PCC.

The University of Portland Center for Entrepreneurship’s Resources page has a huge list of potential resources for businesses, including many of those listed on this page but also including a host of others ranging from incubators and accelerators to networking and entrepreneurship groups to state and local business information and data sources.

Funding Resources

Mercy Corps Northwest programs work to increase economic self-sufficiency and community integration through microenterprise development and self-employment. We assist low-income current and aspiring small-business owners throughout Oregon and Washington in order to reduce unemployment, grow personal incomes and assets, and increase economic growth.

The Oregon Angel Fund (OAF) is a highly structured, professionally managed, investor-driven angel fund. OAF launches a new $3M+ fund each spring. The Oregon Angel Fund seeks to invest in four to five early-stage growth companies each calendar year. Check the website for application information and deadlines.

Lead Generation Organizations

I Take The Lead, Inc.’s mission is to help you build your business by generating professional business leads and referral systems by providing workshops and seminars for business and personal development, business networking tips and techniques. I Take The Lead offers two kinds of business referral systems — Business-to-Consumer networking groups, along with Business to Business networking groups.

LeTip is a business networking organization whose Chapters meet weekly to exchange qualified leads, build solid business relationships, develop strong presentation skills and become proficient networkers. Only one representative of any given profession is accepted into a chapter, and members are chosen for their occupational expertise.

Legal Assistance for Small Businesses

Lewis & Clark Law School’s Small Business Legal Clinic (SBLC) provides business transactional legal advice to new and emerging businesses, primarily those owned by women, minorities, and recent immigrants. The SBLC provides its services to clients through two distinct programs: the Intern Program and the Pro Bono Project.

Miscellaneous Resources

Every week, hundreds of events from workshops to weddings, from meetings to meetups, and all kinds of parties and activities, happen in Portland, the Willamette Valley, Vancouver and the Gorge. They have to happen somewhere. I Need A Space helps connect you with those who want to use your space.

Neighborhood Notes is a collaborative media platform powered by neighbors and indie business owners building vibrant, livable neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon. We view ourselves as collaborators in, not gatekeepers of, local news and resources, working with our community to share knowledge, create authentic relationships, and build a durable, local economy.

Networking Organizations

There are several Bridges Networking clubs in and around Portland. The organization believes business relationships built of friendships lead to more referrals. Members of BRIDGES help one another while helping their own business by getting involved with active entrepreneurs in a non-competitive networking environment.

Emerging Professionals of Portland (EPOP) delivers a forum for Portland area professionals to connect, learn, and lead. We are passionate about building your professional network, fortifying your resume, identifying mentors, and helping you get involved in your community. We embrace diversity, dignity, and respect and it is our commitment to lift each other up to inspire and nurture personal and professional development.

eWomenNetwork Portland is a community of women helping women. Our purpose is to support, promote and showcase our members’ products and services and to help them achieve their professional goals. Please join us and learn the power of networking and building relationships with successful businesswomen who know the great benefits of sharing and helping.

The mission of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) is to provide support activities and mentoring to the entrepreneurial community to foster business growth and employment in Oregon. It is the largest entrepreneur assistance organization in the state.

The Oregon Small Business Network is a members-only group on LinkedIn. You may apply to join for a great way to network, barter services or anything that will help your business flourish.

Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., (OTI) is dedicated to promoting success for women in the trades through education, leadership and mentorship. OTI was founded on the principles that women deserve and can attain economic self-sufficiency through pursuing careers in the building, mechanical, electrical, and utility trades.

Portland Connect is a networking group facilitating face-to-face meetings and other social/business events. This group exists to meet in person so participants should prepare a 30-Second Showcase to tell everyone who they are and who they want to meet. Bring many business cards; hire someone; get hired; make a deal; meet a client; meet a vendor; connect others; get connected.

Portlandia Club provides services and opportunities that enhance the professional and personal lives of women. The club offers networking, social activities as well as an active mentorship program and a commitment to community service. We provide scholarships and funds to help women and children. Please join us!

The Portland Small Business Network serves the small business community of Portland, Oregon. We offer education, networking, support and community. Our flagship networking events — called $5 for 5 Hours of Networking — take place monthly at various locations in the Portland metro area. There is no membership for this group and no complicated rules.

The Urban Entrepreneur Network (UEN) is a Business Networking group for Women & Multicultural Entrepreneurs, Small Business Professionals, and creative Start-Ups. We are privileged to work with those who not only share the desire to make something meaningful, but also enjoy the journey along the way.

Women Entrepreneurs of Oregon (WEO) is the premier organization for women entrepreneurs in Oregon. We motivate and inspire our members to build, grow, and strengthen their businesses through an unprecedented connection to community and high impact professional resources.

Women with Moxie is a business networking group that focuses on helping women build their business by increasing their social networking. We do this through our website and our monthly women’s networking events, which are called Moxie Mixers.

State of Oregon Sites

Business Oregon works to create, retain, expand and attract businesses that provide sustainable, living-wage jobs for Oregonians through public-private partnerships, leveraged funding and support of economic opportunities for Oregon companies and entrepreneurs.

U.S. Government Sites

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a variety of programs and support services to help you navigate the issues you face with your initial applications, and resources to help after you open for business.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. We have been doing this for nearly fifty years. Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and thanks to our network of 13,000+ volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at very low cost.

Small Business and Minority Assistance Organizations

The BESThq network extends throughout the Portland community, in a variety of industries. We hope to broaden the collaboration and exchange of ideas within our office space and between friends and members of our network. Together, we hope to grow and strengthen the Portland community!

The Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) is a non-profit, tax exempt organization with a mission to promote and develop entrepreneurship and economic development for ethnic minorities in the State of Oregon & SW Washington.

The Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN) is a statewide association of microenterprise development programs and their supporters. OMEN’s mission is to increase opportunities for economically and geographically disadvantaged entrepreneurs by building the capacity and quality of Oregon microenterprise and entrepreneur development services.

When you show the Choose Local card you are stating that you support locally owned businesses. These businesses appreciate your support by providing you an instant benefit of reduced prices, or free upgrades, or some other offer.

Startup PDX aims to empower emerging entrepreneurs through business education, cultivate a supportive network of aspiring entrepreneurs, promote the value of entrepreneurship as a means of revitalizing the local economy and connect group members and attendees with the resources and support needed to launch and sustain successful businesses.

The Westside Economic Alliance is focused on the needs of the Westside of the Portland, OR metropolitan region, which includes Washington County and western Clackamas County, and the cities of Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin and Wilsonville.

Techlandia is an ongoing partnership of organizations and individuals from the private, public, and educational sectors all working together to support the local software and technology industries. On the Techlandia website, you can find information about the local tech community.

Technology Organizations

The Technology Association of Oregon is dedicated to bringing together some of the brightest minds in the technology industry. The largest professional technology association in the Northwest, the TAO is comprised of over 350 companies in Oregon and SW Washington that are involved or affiliated with the software and technology industries.

Travel Resources

The mission of Travel Portland is to strengthen the region’s economy by marketing the metropolitan Portland region as a preferred destination for meetings, conventions and leisure travel.

Web Based Resources

Business 2 Community is an independent online community focused on sharing the latest news surrounding Social Media, Marketing, Branding, Public Relations & much more. Every day we feature the thought leadership of our open community of bloggers and aim to provide a balanced view of the business landscape based on industry news, trends and real-life experiences. Jon Turino’s blog is syndicated to this online publication.

ePDX A community-edited guide to the AWESOME TECH COMMUNITY of Portland, Oregon.

HubSpot markets all-in-one marketing software that helps more than 7,500 companies in 46 countries attract leads and convert them into customers. A pioneer in inbound marketing, HubSpot also publishes dozens of e-books filled with useful information related to Internet marketing.

Small businesses across Oregon are getting online through this free Get Your Business Online program from Google. Sign up and you’ll receive easy-to-build Intuit website, customized domain name, web hosting for one year plus online tools and training.

Portland Creative List is a web site resource where you can search, find and compare our City’s finest creative talent and related services. It has information on graphic designers, photographers, web designers and developers, advertising and more.

Social Media Examiner is world’s largest social media magazine and describes itself as “Your Guide to the Social Media Jungle.” It provides information to help businesses discover how to best use social media tools like Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn to connect with customers, generate more brand awareness and increase sales.

A Networking Nexus in PDX (Portland, Oregon, USA) for New Media Professionals (Design, Development & Marketing). Links to Groups, Conferences, Calendars, and Education with a focus on live events and meetings supplies by Nancy W. McClure.

You can use BITLY to shorten long URLs to make it easier to post on Facebook, LinkedIn and particularly on Twitter with its 140 character limit.

Founded 25 years ago, TED (Technology/Entertainment/Design) is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. The annual conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for no more than 18 minutes. Their “talks” are then made available for free at TED.com.

Upcoming Events

Civic Drinks City Club of Portland: Because bringing civic-minded people together is what we do Civic Drinks is a mix of informal conversation, connection and cocktails. It’s your opportunity to mingle with local leaders, City Club members, and others involved or … Continue reading →

East Portland Chamber of Commerce Meetings About the Chamber The East Portland Chamber of Commerce is an independent organization dedicated to serving the interests of businesses on Portland’s sprawling Eastside, from the bank of the Willamette River to the City … Continue reading →